Julius D. “Bud” Wilbur, 81,

On May 12, 2011, he left his earthly body and is now in his heavenly body, this man whom we called husband, father, grandfather, great-grandpa and friend. He is no longer in pain but with the family who preceded him and prepared a place for him.

Julius D. “Bud” Wilbur, 81, of Rome Twp., PA, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2011 at the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. “Bud,” as he was lovingly called by those who knew him, was born March 27, 1930 on the family farm in Rome Twp., the only son and one of twins to Manville and Myra Drake Wilbur. He attended the Rome School where he was an avid baseball and basketball player.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1949 and served during the Korean War where he was wounded three times. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals.

Bud was employed by GTE Sylvania in Towanda for 36 years until his retirement. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 42 and Beirne-Webster VFW Post 1568, Towanda.

Mr. Wilbur loved to hunt and taught his sons archery and rifle hunting.

He loved his wife, Shelba and children, Julie and Walt Burrowes, Dan and Connie Wilbur, Kim and Richard Mott, Sue and David Oley, Lynn Bedford and Isaac Johnson, Matthew Wilbur and Tamra Berry. He was stepfather to David and Anne Swisher, Francine and Clyde Wilson, Sally Mulno, Danny Swisher and Shelley Sarnowski and Tracey and Jeff Middaugh. These children blessed him with 26 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Ethel Parks, Nancy Post and husband, Floyd, Ellen Gunn and husband, Jim, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters and brothers-in-law, Marian and Lester Harvey, Mavis and Carlton Allis, Edna and Bernard Welliver, Julia and Fred Menichelli and brother-in-law, Karl Allis.

A private funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours.

The Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home of Towanda is assisting Bud's family with arrangements.